The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1887-09-02

spondent = the true and lawful owner thereof,
the handbag before mcntionsd win BE- daily 70
turned on the payment Of the sum Of Ave aoa'
Ian. 70 cover ezpen..s Of sdyersisang s:s;
Residence. Bixport, State Of Maine.~
Having finished this rather remarka-
bic production. Captain Flagg read it
aloud for the edification of Tad and
Joe Whitney. who had just returned
from the kitchen.
''Tain't the way I'd put it, Uncle
Jeth," remarked the irrepressible Joe,
with his mouth full of doughnut and
suspicious bunchiness about his
pockets, as Captain Flagg laid down
the paper with look Of conscious
pride I'D just say: Found in Broad
Street station. Philadelphia. on SUCH
and-such a nigh handbag. Prove
Property and pay charges. Address
Captain Jethro Flagg, Bixport.
Maine"
Captain Flagg regarded his auda-
cious nephew with a look in which
mild Indignation was blended with
pity. "Mebbe you would, Joseph" he
said, with some severity, "mebbe you
would; but, considerin' that I'm jest a
few years older'n you. I've took the
liberty of dom this my own way"
"All right, Uncle Jeth. returned
the unabashed youth, ''if ym don't
mind, Idon't, I'm sure. Say, Tad. "
he remarked. briskly. turning to the
secretly amused youth. "how'd you
like me to 60 over to Miss Smiths in
the morning and speak good word
for you, eh?"
I'D like you to go with me ever so
MUCH" warmly replied Tad. He did
not rely much upon Joe's verbal rec
| concentration. but he had sort of
feeling that the moral support Of his
presence would be great deal.
"rll call for you right after break
fast" briefly returned Joe, with twin
kle in the eye. that, had Polly been
present, she would have understood at
once to mean mischief. But she was
helping Mrs. F1agg with supper prep
arations. and the Captain was busy
sending off the copies of his notice to
a couple of city papers. so Tad had no
warning as to Joe Whitney's love OF
practical jokes. And all the way home
Joe choked down certain little twinges
of conscience, by representing to him.
self that it was "only little fun, any
way," an excuse which fancy has
been common to mischievous youth
from the tabled stoning of the frogs
down to the present day.
Miss Smith was " shooting" some
hens out of her yard as Joe came by
the house, and he at once volunteered
his services with marked success. Send.
ing the last hen shrieking across the
street with stick following closely a,
her tail-feathers, Joe closed the gate
carefully.
"Oh, I say. Miss Smith," he re
marked, as he was turning away, 81
told Tad-the boy that Uncle Jetf
brought home this trip-that I'd come
over with him in the morning-he's
sort of bashful with strangers"
.Nobody'd accuse you of any thing
OF the kind, Joe Whitney" was Miss
Smiths uncompromising answer. She
was tall, thin, angular and forty, with
"a good heart, but rather uncertain tenn.
per. And Joe was not a prime favor.
lite with Miss Smith, by reason OF
his rather peculiar tendencies to mis-
chief
..Tad's a real good boy, 1 guess. '
said Joe, ignoring the personality. "bui
if he's as hard of hearin' as Uncle Jetl
says-for heard him say Tad was dec
as a haddock--you'll have to hOller like
old boots to make him hear" And
without waiting to be questioned far
Their, Joe scudded homeward.
True to his promise, Joe was or
hand bright and early on the following
morning. Captain Flagg had gone
down to superintend the discharge o.
the MARY Us" cargo, and Mrs
Flagg was in the kitchen. Only Polly
and Bounce followed the two boys t.
the gate.
Remember, now! no tricks-Joe.'
called out Polly. warningly; ''good
luck to you Tad" and she waved he'
hand encouragingly. As the Latter
turned with very full heart, to lool
back at the old home whose occupant:
had given him so friendly reception
"Oh, isn't this nicer said Tad, en-
Enthusiastically. as he drew in q grea
breath of the sweet, pure air. ant
looked at the quiet beauty of the land
scape about him. Behind the village
rose range of spruce and pine Gov
cred hills. All round were fertil,
farms, and, in the eyes of the city-bret
boy, Bixport and its surrounding
seemed a sort of miniature Paradise.
Not so bad" patronizingly assent
ed his companion. And as they crossed
small stone bridge which SPAWNED .
deep narrow stream, Joe stopped ant
peeped scrutinizingly over the rail. a
the dark current below.
81 guess the waters warm enough
to try the trout-tO-mOrrOws Satur
day, and if Miss Smith'l let you off il
the afternoon-if she hires yOu-wha
do YOU say if We go trouting?
Say! What would any boy say to such
proposition--particularly a boy who ha'
never before been outside city walls
"But may be Miss Smith won't hir'
me-" suggested Tad. little anxiously
after having expressed rapturou
readiness to accompany his newly
made friend on trouting tramp, O
anywhere else that Joe might suggest
mo trouble about that" Joe replied
| oon6doptlv. ssShe'd f.Ee snyhOdy I'm